Updated: British MotoGP qualifying delayed, Rabat taken to hospital

Qualifying for the British MotoGP at Silverstone has been delayed following a nasty accident involving Tito Rabat during the final practice session in wet conditions.

After a heavy rain shower partly hit the British track midway through FP4, soaking the Stowe and Club section, a number of riders came off due to aquaplaning at Stowe.

Rabat is reported to have fallen on his own and while walking out of the gravel trap was collected by Franco Morbidelli’s Marc VDS Honda, after the Italian rider came off.

The FP4 session was instantly red-flagged with Rabat given medical attention. The Avintia rider has suffered 'multiple' right leg fractures, rumoured to be a broken tibia, fibula and femur.

After extensive trackside care, the Reale Avintia Ducati rider was taken to the medical centre which saw Q1 begin in mixed track conditions.

At the completion of Q1, with Red Bull KTM’s Bradley Smith and Suzuki’s Alex Rins progressing into Q2, the start of the final qualifying session was suspended as Rabat was flown by medical helicopter to hospital.

Q2 then began once the medical helicopter had arrived back at Silverstone.

Speaking to Movistar TV at Silverstone, Doctor Angel Charte gave an update on Rabat’s condition.

“Tito is sedated, we have evacuated him in a helicopter,” Charte said. “He has had a high-energy accident, he has been swept by another driver's bike.

“Initially the neurological examination was normal, but there was a significant difficulty in the right leg that affected the femoral area and the peroneal possibly open. A small opening.

“Now we must finish the complete exploration with the relevant TACs to assess the extent of the severity of the injury. They are quite important injuries. His life is not in danger at all, but it is true that the injury he has is worrying.

“These are lesions that have to be verified by radiological techniques, that the right femoral as well as the peroneal area has a significant fracture.

“The next steps are to do the whole radiological study, a three-dimensional CAT scan if possible and proceed to de-coagulate it for the risk of thromboembolism. His life is not in danger. I insist, it is sedated because the pain is unbearable.”